... och på jorden fred åt dem han har utvalt..?

Vi känner igen orden från änglarnas sång i samband med att en Herrens ängel förkunnade det glada budskapet om det märkliga barnet. Vi har just firat jul och glatt oss över att få lovsjunga Jesus Kristus som den som är fredsfursten.

Men samtidigt kan man fråga: Ska det aldrig ta slut på konflikten i Mellanöstern? När ska Israel och Palestina kunna leva i fred? När ska bombbälten läggas av, de iranska misilerna sluta att skjutas mot Israel? När ska israeliska barn få leka i fred i städerna nära Gaza? När ska israeliska mödrar (och fäder) kunna handla sina grönsaker utan att riskera att bli attackerade från raketramper uppmonterade på palestinska skolgårdar i Gaza? När ska palestinska barn kunna leka i fred och palestinska mödrar (och fäder) kunna handla grönsaker utan att riskera att israeliska bomplan släper sin dödliga last över Gazaområdet? När ska fredens och försoningens tid vara inne? Ja inte hjälper misiler. Det borde både Hamas och Israel inse. Freden får inte ges upp. Samtalen får inte tystna. Kyrkornas protester måste höras så länge våldets och hatets väg är den som beträds.

Kyrkornas världsråd säger idag:
For immediate release: 29 December 2008
Violence against Gaza must stop immediately, WCC general secretary says
The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has condemned "the violence against Gaza" and called on "governments in the region and abroad" to seek the protection of "those who are at risk [...] on both sides of the border". “The deaths and suffering of the last three days are dreadful and shameful and will achieve nothing but more deaths and suffering,” Kobia said in a 29 December statement. He was referring to the “over 300 lives lost, more than 1,000 people wounded, [and] uncounted thousands traumatized” in the Gaza strip as a result of the “bombardment of one of the most densely populated places on earth”. “This must stop immediately,” he added.The statement reiterates previous WCC calls on “the government of Israel and Hamas to respect international humanitarian and human rights law,” and warns that in the present crisis the use of Israeli military ground forces “would deepen the current disaster”. The statement criticizes “policies that rely on cutting off shipments of food, medicine and fuel for 1.5 million Gazans, and on sending rockets across borders at random or ‘surgically’”. As “a terrible period of deadlock and deprivation has now erupted into greater violence,” the statement says, “the tired logic of public officials blaming others while denying their own government’s responsibilities has led to the loss of many lives”.Reiterating a WCC central committee statement of last February condemning the “collective punishment” of Gazans as well as “attacks on civilians in and around Gaza,” Kobia expressed his prayerful hope that “the New Year will bring new courage, new leadership and new commitment to the difficult work of peace in the Middle East”.

The full text of the WCC general secretary statement follows:
Statement on the Gaza crisisThe first word to say to the violence against Gaza is ‘Stop’. Over 300 lives lost, more than 1,000 people wounded, uncounted thousands traumatized, bombardment of one of the most densely populated places on earth… this must stop immediately. Governments in the region and abroad, the Arab League, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations must use their good offices to see that all those who are at risk are protected, on both sides of the border, and must ensure access for emergency and medical aid. The deaths and suffering of the last three days are dreadful and shameful and will achieve nothing but more deaths and suffering. People around the world are looking for change that brings peace closer in the Middle East. A terrible period of deadlock and deprivation has now erupted into greater violence. Policies that rely on cutting off shipments of food, medicine and fuel for 1.5 million Gazans and on sending rockets across borders at random or ‘surgically’ only confirm how far from the path of peace the current authorities have strayed. To use ground forces would deepen the current disaster. Collective punishment against one’s neighbors is illegal and has no place in building peace. In the countries involved in this conflict, churches and church members are looking to their governments to take up the urgent work of securing a viable future for Palestinians, Israelis and their neighbors. The tired logic of public officials blaming others while denying their own government’s responsibilities has led to the loss of many lives. Governments need now to be accountable for peace.At the beginning of 2008, the World Council of Churches central committee condemned attacks on civilians in and around Gaza, called for all who exercise authority over Gaza including the government of Israel and Hamas to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, and urged member churches to pray and work for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. At the end of 2008, in this season of religious celebrations, it is a tragedy that the same measures are more necessary than ever. Our prayer is that the New Year will bring new courage, new leadership and new commitment to the difficult work of peace in the Middle East.

Rev. Dr Samuel KobiaGeneral SecretaryWorld Council of Churches29 December 2008